Terres rares : Exploration et production miniére

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Face à la domination chinoise sur les terres rares, l’Europe veut bâtir sa souveraineté industrielle

Face à la domination de Pékin, les Européens tentent de reconquérir une partie du marché des terres rares. Forte de son expérience passée, la France fait partie des têtes de pont avec des acteurs comme Solvay.

Nathan Mann 22 août 2024

Depuis quelques années, Frédéric Carencotte amasse des trottinettes électriques. Les bolides usagés sont une manne pour le président de Carester, start-up de 36 salariés qu’il a fondée il y a cinq ans pour participer à la renaissance d’une chaîne d’approvisionnement de terres rares en Europe. «Plus de 90 % des moteurs de trottinette utilisent des terres rares», dévoile l’ingénieur, qui a récolté plusieurs dizaines de tonnes d’aimants dans divers moteurs électriques usagés. La principale activité de Carester consiste à développer des procédés de concentration et de raffinage des terres rares pour différents acteurs miniers hors de Chine. D’ici à 2026, il compte édifier une usine de recyclage d’aimants permanents et de séparation de terres rares à Lacq (Pyrénées-Atlantiques). Un projet, estimé à 200 millions d’euros, qui permettra de transformer en France de vieux aimants et du concentré minier en oxydes de terres rares purs.
...abonnés

https://www.usinenouvelle.com/article/f ... e.N2213853

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La robotique sera le moteur de la demande mondiale de terres rares d’ici 2040 (rapport)

Agence Ecofin 02 sept 2024

La demande mondiale de terres rares devrait presque tripler d’ici 2030, notamment avec la transition énergétique et de nouveaux secteurs de consommation. Dans le même temps, l’offre mondiale reste insuffisante, ouvrant des perspectives pour plusieurs pays africains hébergeant des réserves.

La robotique deviendra d’ici 2040 le principal moteur de la demande mondiale de NdFeB, un alliage contenant des terres rares et servant à fabriquer des aimants permanents. C’est du moins la prévision faite par le cabinet Adamas Intelligence dans un rapport paru fin août sur le marché des terres rares magnétiques.

Selon le document, une croissance à deux chiffres est attendue dans le secteur de la robotique entre 2024 et 2030, comme dans les secteurs de la mobilité aérienne avancée et des véhicules électriques. Cela se traduira par un taux de croissance annuelle composé de 8,7 % pour la demande mondiale d’aimants NdFeB qui atteindra environ 880 000 tonnes en 2040, contre 230 000 tonnes actuellement. Une croissance proportionnelle de la demande de néodyme, dysprosium et terbium, des éléments de terres rares présents dans ces aimants, est attendue en conséquence.

Pour le secteur de la robotique, la demande accrue en terres rares devrait être soutenue par une « croissance fulgurante de la production de robots de service professionnels pour les secteurs de la fabrication, de l’hôtellerie, du transport et de la logistique ». Adamas Intelligence explique aussi que la mobilité aérienne avancée (drones, taxis aériens, etc.) devrait connaitre un développement rapide d’ici 2040, devenant également un des principaux moteurs de la demande NdFeB.

Une offre insuffisante

La croissance de la demande mondiale de terres rares prévue par Adamas Intelligence s’accompagne de risques de pénurie dans l’approvisionnement. Selon le cabinet, la production mondiale des terres rares dites magnétiques devrait connaitre un taux de croissance annuelle composé de 5,1 %, soit une progression de l’offre plus lente que celle de la demande.

Le cabinet américain Boston Consulting Group va dans le même sens. En juillet 2023, la firme de conseil en stratégie a estimé à 466 000 tonnes la demande mondiale de terres rares en 2035, contre 170 000 tonnes en 2022. Et pour éviter une pénurie d’ici 2030, le cabinet précise que plus de 20 nouveaux projets doivent être lancés à cette échéance, ainsi que 10 autres en plus d’ici 2035. Malgré l’abondance de projets actuels, BCG conclut que même les actifs les plus prometteurs ne suffiront pas à satisfaire la demande accrue.

« En effet, la plupart d’entre eux n’en sont qu’au stade des études de faisabilité et n’ont pas encore obtenu de financement, ce qui s’avère difficile compte tenu des conditions actuelles du marché. Et même les projets qui recevront finalement le feu vert n’auront pas commencé leur développement avant sept à dix ans », indique le cabinet américain.

Quelle place pour l’Afrique ?

La Chine est le premier producteur mondial de terres rares, représentant entre 70 et 90 % de l’offre selon les pays. Pour les pays de l’Union européenne, Pékin fournit même 100 % de la consommation en terres rares lourdes. Dans un contexte de relations commerciales tendues entre la Chine d’une part et l’UE ainsi que les États-Unis d’autre part, le bloc occidental cherche déjà à diversifier ses sources d’approvisionnement pour divers minéraux, dont les terres rares.

Les risques de pénurie à l’horizon renforcent donc la nécessité pour ces pays de trouver d’autres alternatives à l’offre chinoise, ce qui rend toute nouvelle source de terres rares cruciale. Cette situation peut offrir des perspectives intéressantes aux pays africains hébergeant des réserves de terres rares. Sur le continent, le Burundi s’est illustré en 2017 en devenant le premier producteur du continent, avant qu’un différend entre l’État et la compagnie exploitant la seule mine du pays (Rainbow Rare Earths) ne bloque les opérations depuis 2021.

Cependant, de nouveaux acteurs émergent sur le continent. C’est le cas de la Tanzanie, de l’Ouganda, du Malawi, de l’Angola ou encore de l’Afrique du Sud. D’ici 2029, ces pays devraient permettre à l’Afrique d’assurer 9 % de l’approvisionnement mondial en terres rares, selon Benchmark Mineral Intelligence. Le rôle grandissant du continent dans ce secteur pourrait lui valoir un plus grand intérêt des principaux consommateurs, dans le but d’accélérer le développement des projets, générant potentiellement davantage de revenus miniers aux États.

Les bénéfices économiques éventuels liés à l’exploitation des terres rares viennent néanmoins avec un effet néfaste pour l’environnement. Le processus d’extraction et de traitement des terres rares est très nocif, ce qui peut avoir des conséquences à terme pour les sols, l’eau et ipso facto la santé des populations riveraines des mines.

« L’UE qui s’est engagée en faveur d’un approvisionnement durable et éthique, peut exiger le respect de normes environnementales et sociales strictes […]. Les pays d’Afrique subsaharienne devraient être obligés d’investir dans des méthodes d’extraction respectueuses de l’environnement, d’adopter des pratiques minières responsables et de traiter les questions sociales pour s’aligner sur les attentes de l’UE », recommande ainsi le chercheur Dirk Kohnert, du GIGA-Institute for African Affairs, dans un rapport publié en janvier 2024.

https://www.agenceecofin.com/terres-rar ... 40-rapport

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suite de ce post du 16 juin 2024 http://www.oleocene.org/phpBB3/viewtopi ... 4#p2392904

Critical Metals commences drilling at Tanbreez rare earth deposit

Refna Tharayil 5th Sep 2024

Critical Metals Corp. (Nasdaq: CRML) (“Critical Metals Corp”), a leading mining development company focused on critical metals and minerals and producing strategic products essential to electrification and next generation technologies for Europe and its western world partners, today announced the launch of a diamond drilling program at the Tanbreez Greenland Rare Earth Mine (the “Tanbreez Project”).

The drilling program consists of 14 holes with a total cumulative length of up to 2,200 m and will evaluate the resources contained in the mine and the mine’s projected lifespan. The drilling program is expected to last approx. 30 days subject to the appropriate weather conditions and site accessibility.

“The Tanbreez project offers immense potential for reducing western countries’ reliance on China for critical materials needed to support the transition to clean energy and defense applications, thereby bolstering national security,” said Tony Sage, CEO and Chairman of Critical Metals Corp. “We look forward to the results of this drilling program as we continue to advance our development strategy for this foundational rare earth asset.”
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https://www.nsenergybusiness.com/news/c ... t/?cf-view

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suite de ce post du 20 avril 2024 http://www.oleocene.org/phpBB3/viewtopi ... 2#p2389882

Angola : Pensana annonce un accord de vente des terres rares de Longonjo

Agence Ecofin 09 sept 2024

L’Angola devrait devenir en 2025 un nouveau producteur africain de terres rares, grâce au projet Longonjo. Alors que les travaux de construction ont démarré, son propriétaire britannique Pensana s’active pour trouver des débouchés à la future production.

En Angola, Pensana a annoncé le 9 septembre un protocole d’accord non contraignant pour vendre des terres rares provenant de la future mine Longonjo au japonais Hanwa. L’accord porte sur la livraison annuelle de 20 000 tonnes de carbonate mixte de terres rares sur cinq ans.

Il s’agit de la moitié de la production annuelle projetée à la mine et qui s’élève à 40 000 tonnes de carbonate mixte de terres rares. La signature d’un tel accord de vente assure une réduction des risques liés au financement du projet qui devrait entrer en service en 2025.

L’investissement initial nécessaire pour la mine et les usines de traitement de Longonjo est évalué à 217 millions de dollars. Pensana a conclu un accord pour mobiliser 156 millions de dollars grâce à la dette et 80 millions de dollars en fonds propres, notamment avec un investissement du Fonds souverain angolais.

Rappelons que le développement du projet bénéficie de perspectives prometteuses sur le marché des terres rares. Outre la concentration actuelle de l’offre en Chine, qui rend toute nouvelle source intéressante, la compagnie peut s’appuyer sur une hausse de la demande. D’ici 2040, la demande mondiale d’aimants NdFeB (contenant divers éléments de terres rares) devrait enregistrer un taux de croissance annuelle composé de 8,7 % selon Adamas Intelligence.

L’État angolais devrait aussi profiter du développement de Longonjo, non seulement grâce aux impôts et aux redevances, mais aussi avec l’implication directe du Fonds souverain au capital de la compagnie. Ce dernier est d’ailleurs le premier actionnaire de Pensana avec une participation de 26 %.

https://www.agenceecofin.com/terres-rar ... e-longonjo

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suite de ce post du 9 dec 2023 http://www.oleocene.org/phpBB3/viewtopi ... 1#p2381401

Un gisement de terres rares valorisé à 3,7 milliards $ en Afrique du Sud

Agence Ecofin 12 sept 2023

En 2017, le Burundi est devenu le premier producteur africain de terres rares. Depuis, plusieurs pays du continent s’activent pour exploiter leurs propres réserves, dans un contexte de hausse de la demande mondiale pour ces métaux indispensables à la transition énergétique.

Le projet Phalaborwa en Afrique du Sud héberge des ressources minérales de 35 millions de tonnes titrant 0,44 % d’oxyde de terres rares (TREO). Cette nouvelle estimation a une valeur de 3,7 milliards de dollars, selon un communiqué publié le 11 septembre par Rainbow Rare Earths, la compagnie minière qui pilote le projet.

Cette estimation de la valeur du gisement tient compte des terres rares les plus demandées sur le marché, notamment le néodyme, le praséodyme, le dysprosium et le terbium. Ces terres rares sont notamment utilisées dans les aimants des turbines éoliennes et dans les véhicules électriques, deux secteurs en plein essor dans le cadre de la transition énergétique. Le cabinet Adamas Intelligence estime ainsi que la demande mondiale d’aimants contenant ces éléments de terres rares devrait connaitre un taux de croissance annuel composé de 8,7 % d’ici 2040.

La mise à jour de l’estimation de ressources minérales prolonge aussi de deux ans la durée de vie de la mine, ce qui signifie que Phalaborwa peut désormais être exploitée sur 16 ans. Selon une évaluation économique préliminaire publiée en octobre 2023, Phalaborwa peut livrer 26 208 tonnes d’oxydes de terres rares sur une durée de vie de 14,2 ans, grâce à un investissement initial de 295,5 millions de dollars.

Rappelons que le développement du projet Phalaborwa survient à un moment où l’Afrique du Sud élabore une stratégie sur les minéraux critiques pour tirer profit de la hausse de la demande au niveau mondial. En plus des terres rares, l’Afrique du Sud dispose de réserves de nickel, cuivre et lithium, des minéraux essentiels à la transition énergétique avec des risques d’approvisionnement plus ou moins élevés.

https://www.agenceecofin.com/terres-rar ... que-du-sud

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suite de ce post du 11 juin 2023 http://www.oleocene.org/phpBB3/viewtopi ... 2#p2371342

CopperCorp begins drilling at Razorback property in Australia
The results from the drilling will inform future drilling plans and ongoing surface sampling at the Razorback property.

September 12, 2024

CopperCorp Resources has started diamond drilling work at the Jukes Zone target area on its Razorback Copper-Gold-REE property in Tasmania, Australia.

This initial drilling programme includes two diamond drill holes, aiming to extend high-grade copper-gold mineralisation.

The results from this programme will inform future drilling plans and ongoing surface sampling, CopperCorp said.

The drilling campaign is set to explore depth extensions of high-grade copper-gold mineralisation, with an initial focus on two holes totalling up to 400m.

CopperCorp holds approvals for up to 1,320m of drilling across four sites at Jukes, with potential extensions based on initial findings and concurrent surface sampling.

The Jukes prospect, a historical site of mining activity, is situated 10km south of the Mt Lyell copper mine.

CopperCorp’s drilling aims to test a new geological model that suggests a larger, north-north-west-trending mineralisation system.

Historical exploration at Jukes, including drilling in the 1970s and 1980s, yielded significant intercepts. However, these efforts did not fully explore the potential of the now-recognised larger mineralisation system.

No drilling has been conducted at Jukes since the 1980s, but CopperCorp’s recent geophysical studies and 3D modelling have identified promising magnetic and gravity anomalies indicative of a structurally controlled mineralised system.

https://www.mining-technology.com/news/ ... k/?cf-view

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Aclara Resources to start rare earths production in Brazil in 2027

Cecilia Jamasmie | September 13, 2024

Rare earths developer Aclara Resources (TSX: ARA) plans to apply for a crucial environmental permit early next year for its flagship rare earth project in Brazil, with the goal of starting production in 2027—two years ahead of the initial schedule.


The company said the Carina deposit, in the state of Goiás, could generate 191 tonnes a year of dysprosium (Dy) and terbium (Tb), which are heavy rare earths used in electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing.

Aclara, which updated this week the preliminary economic assessment (PEA) for regolith-hosted ion adsorption clay project, now pegs the project’s net present value at $1.5 billion, using an 8% discount rate, and an internal rate of return (IRR) of 27% over the 22-year mine life.

Initial capital costs are estimated at $593 million, with low sustaining costs of $86 million.

The project is forecast to generate $505 million in annual net revenue and $366 million in EBITDA.

Chief executive officer Ramón Barua told Reuters that once in operations, Carina’s production would represent about 13% of China’s 2023 output for these materials.

The Toronto-based company, with offices in Chile and Brazil, is progressing faster than expected on the Carina project, originally slated for production in 2029. Aclara’s has gained momentum mostly thanks to agreements with both state and local governments to expedite the permitting process.

If the necessary approvals are granted within 18 months, as anticipated, production could begin as early as 2027, or possibly in 2028, Barua said in the interview with Reuters.

No tailings

Aclara’s extraction process reduces its environmental impact by eliminating the need for explosives and milling. The company recycles 95% of its water and uses common fertilizers, leaving no liquid waste that would require tailings dams.

For the rest of the year and next, Aclara plans to conduct additional drilling and metallurgical studies to support a pre-feasibility study and the construction of a pilot plant.

Brazil, which holds the world’s third-largest rare earth reserves, is becoming a hotspot for early-stage projects as Western nations seek to reduce their dependence on China for critical elements in the supply chain.

In addition to the Carina project, Aclara is also pursuing environmental approvals for a smaller deposit in Chile, known as Penco, which is expected to follow a similar 18-month approval timeline.

Located in the southern Bío-Bío region, Penco is backed by Chilean conglomerate CAP SA and covers a 6-sq.-km area hosting an ionic clay deposit rich in heavy rare earths. Measured and indicated resources total 27.5 million tonnes, grading 2,292 parts per million total rare earth oxides (TREO), for 62,900 tonnes of contained TREO.

The planned project doesn’t have a tailings facility for waste. After processing, Aclara plans to place washed clays into deposition zones and revegetate them.

https://www.mining.com/aclara-resources ... l-in-2027/

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suite de ce post du 10 juillet 2022 http://www.oleocene.org/phpBB3/viewtopi ... 4#p2346914

SRC’s facility in Saskatoon begins rare earth metals production
The facility is set to increase production to 40 tonnes (t) per month by the end of December 2024.

September 19, 2024

The Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC) has commenced the production of rare earth metals at its facility in Saskatoon, Canada, marking North America’s entry into the production of these critical elements.

The SRC Rare Earth Processing Facility has successfully produced rare earth metals at a commercial scale ahead of schedule using automated technology in metal smelting.

SRC’s automated technology has enabled the production of neodymium-praseodymium (NdPr) metals with purities exceeding 99.5% and conversion rates surpassing 98%.

Starting with a monthly output of 10t, the facility is set to increase production to 40t per month by the end of December 2024.

In July 2024, SRC secured tolling agreements with international clients to process rare earth oxides into metals.

These agreements allow SRC to commercialise its metal smelting technology with minimal initial investment.

When fully operational in early 2025, the facility is expected to produce around 400t of NdPr metals annually, sufficient to power half a million electric vehicles.

Since 2020, the SRC facility has received substantial funding from the Saskatchewan and Canadian governments, totalling $101m (C$136.86m).

SRC president and CEO Mike Crabtree said: “Since 2020, SRC has aimed to become a global leader in rare earth processing technology and today we have proven out an industry model for future rare earth initiatives and supply chain development.

“This achievement is the result of more than 15 years of research and development and now commercialisation in rare earths led by world-class experts in rare earth extraction and processing technology.”

https://www.mining-technology.com/news/ ... n/?cf-view

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suite de ce post du 24 mars 2024 http://www.oleocene.org/phpBB3/viewtopi ... 8#p2388648

American Rare Earths Secures EXIM Bank Support with US$456M Letter of Interest for Wyoming Rare Earth Project

September 25, 2024

In a groundbreaking development for American Rare Earths Limited, the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) has issued a non-binding Letter of Interest to provide up to US$456 million in debt financing. The funds will support the construction and execution phase of the Cowboy State Mine (CSM) area at ARR’s 100%-owned Halleck Creek Project in Wyoming. This financial backing marks a pivotal moment for the U.S. rare earths sector, reinforcing the country’s push for a domestic supply chain amid global competition.

The financing package from EXIM will cover the entire initial capital expenditure for the Cowboy State Mine, the first stage in a multi-phased approach to developing the significant Halleck Creek rare earths deposit. As outlined in ARR’s March 2024 Scoping Study, this project represents a substantial opportunity for the United States to gain strategic control over rare earth resources, including key magnet metals such as neodymium (Nd) and praseodymium (Pr). These elements are critical for technologies like electric vehicles (EVs), wind turbines, and other components essential to the clean energy transition.

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Halleck Creek’s JORC resource stands at an impressive 2.34 billion tonnes, containing 7.48 million tonnes of total rare earth oxides. These include neodymium and praseodymium oxides, which are vital components for modern technologies. With this substantial resource, the project is poised to become a significant long-term asset for the U.S., ensuring the country’s access to these critical materials.

As the global demand for clean energy technologies continues to rise, so does the need for rare earth elements. By securing funding from EXIM, ARR is taking a crucial step toward establishing a sustainable and strategically important supply chain for the U.S. market. The financing will not only accelerate the development of the Cowboy State Mine but also pave the way for further exploration and project expansion.
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https://americanrareearths.com.au/inves ... h-project/

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suite de ce post du 7 sept 2024 viewtopic.php?p=2398219#p2398219

Critical Metals licence for Greenland rare earths deposit extended

Staff Writer | October 15, 2024


Tanbreez Project orebody. (Image courtesy of Critical Metals.)

Europe-focused Critical Metals Corp. (Nasdaq: CRML) said on Tuesday it had obtained an extension for the exploitation license of its majority-owned Tanbreez project in Greenland, the world’s largest rare earth deposit.

The company must now submit exploitation and closure plans by the end of 2025, provide financial security and a company guarantee by June 30th, 2026, and begin mining by the end of 2028.

“The extension is a significant milestone, demonstrating strong local support for our project, which is expected to create numerous local jobs,” chairman and CEO Tony Sage said in the statement.

With the drilling program announced in September concluded, all rare earth material extracted has been secured in storage. A portion of the materials has been sent to be analyzed by ALS laboratory in Ireland. Critical Metals Corp said it expects to receive the test results in the coming months.

Located in Southern Greenland, the Tanbreez project is expected to contain over 27% heavy rare earth elements (HREE), which carry higher value than light rare earth elements.

Once operational, the mine is anticipated to supply rare earth elements to Europe and North America. The project is expected to have access to key transportation outlets as the Tanbreez area features year-round direct shipping access through deep-water fjords that lead directly to the North Atlantic ocean. The outcropping orebody, known as Kakortokite, covers an area of 8 km by 5 km and is about 400 metres thick.

Critical Metals, which owns Europe’s first fully permitted lithium mine, the Wolfsberg lithium project in Austria, debuted on the Nasdaq in March.

Upon completion of construction at Wolfsberg by 2026, Critical Metals has committed to supplying BMW by 2027. The company has also secured a deal with Obeikan Investment Group to build a lithium hydroxide plant in Saudi Arabia.

Shares in Critical Metals jumped over 2.8% on the NASDAQ. The company has a $536.6 million market capitalization.

https://www.mining.com/critical-metals- ... -extended/

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suite de ce post du 23 juin 2024 viewtopic.php?p=2393312#p2393312

Rare earths producer Serra Verde secures $150m investment
The investment will fund operational enhancements and long-term growth initiatives.

October 23, 2024

Brazil-focused REE company Serra Verde Group has secured $150m (1.11bn reais) in investment from Denham Capital and the Energy and Minerals Group from the US and Vision Blue Resources.

Serra Verde has also earned a place on the Minerals Security Partnership’s (MSP) global list of projects considered to play key role in the global energy transition.

The investment will fund operational enhancements and long-term growth initiatives.

Serra Verde, the only scale producer of four essential REEs outside of Asia, is set to bolster global supply chains with a new, reliable and sustainable source.

These REEs are vital for manufacturing efficient permanent magnets used in electric vehicles (EVs), wind turbines and other key technologies driving the energy transition.

The MSP, a consortium of 14 countries and the EU, chaired by the Republic of Korea, is focused on fostering diverse and sustainable critical mineral supply chains.

It provides financial and diplomatic support to strategic projects, advocating for elevated environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards, increased recycling of critical materials and local value addition.

Serra Verde’s commitment to sustainability is evident in its ionic clay operation in Brazil, which employs low-risk mining techniques and simple processing with eco-friendly reagents.

Serra Verde commenced commercial production early this year. It is already enhancing its phase one capacity and exploring a potential phase two expansion that is expected to double production by 2030.

Serra Verde CEO Thras Moraitis said: “Today’s announcement is a strong endorsement of the significant role that Serra Verde can play in establishing sustainable, secure and diversified rare earth supply chains to enable the global energy transition.

“Federal, state and international coordination on the criticality of current and future critical mineral operations is essential to ensure they reach the scale necessary to allow them to successfully compete and accelerate the development of our industry.

“We have ambitious plans to invest in and expand our operation and the additional investment from our shareholders will enable us to continue to deliver on these exciting initiatives.”

In January this year, Serra Verde began commercial production of MREC from phase one of its Pela Ema deposit in Minaçu, Goiás, Brazil.

https://www.mining-technology.com/news/ ... nvestment/

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suite de ce post du 27 avril 2024 viewtopic.php?p=2390292#p2390292

Lynas opens Australia’s first rare earths processing facility
The processing facility is a key element of Lynas' 2025 growth plan, announced in May 2019.

November 11, 2024

Mining company Lynas Rare Earths has inaugurated its A$800m ($525m) Kalgoorlie rare earths processing facility in Western Australia.

The opening ceremony was attended by Australian Resources Minister Madeleine King, alongside Lynas Rare Earths Board chair John Humphrey and managing director and CEO Amanda Lacaze.

Lacaze said: “This was an ambitious project, which established downstream rare earths processing in Australia for the first time. It was a foundational project for our Lynas 2025 growth strategy and a significant financial investment for Lynas and our shareholders.

“I am proud of the way our team embraced the challenge. We have created a state-of-the-art rare earths processing facility and a new, future-facing industry for the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder.”

The Kalgoorlie rare earths processing facility plays a central role in Lynas’ growth strategy for 2025, which was initially revealed in May 2019.

The company noted that the project was completed in less than two and a half years following the receipt of full construction approvals.

The facility has been designed to process the rare earth concentrate from the Mt Weld mine and is capable of accepting third party feedstock from other projects when they start operations.

The rare earths concentrate moves via a cracking and leaching process to produce a mixed rare earths carbonate that can be processed additionally into separated rare earth materials at facilities near Lynas customers.

Lacaze added: “As the only significant ex-China producer of separated rare earths, Lynas plays an important role in the global rare earths supply chain.

“The mixed rare earth carbonate produced in Kalgoorlie is shipped to our Malaysian facility for separation into individual products, and in future will supply our planned US facility.

“We thank the Australian Government, the Western Australian Government and the City of Kalgoorlie Boulder for their support in the development of the Kalgoorlie Rare Earths Processing Facility.”

In April this year, Gina Rinehart, Australia’s wealthiest individual, increased her mining holdings by acquiring a share in Lynas Rare Earths via her company, Hancock Prospecting.

https://www.mining-technology.com/news/ ... e/?cf-view

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suite de ce post du 2 juin 2019 viewtopic.php?p=2284239#p2284239

Poutine est agacé par la lenteur du développement des terres rares de Tomtor

Putin scolds Tomtor rare earth deposit’s operator over development delays

Reuters | November 20, 2024

President Vladimir Putin accused the operator of Tomtor, Russia’s largest rare earth deposit, of delaying the deposit’s development, suggesting it should either raise investment or seek help from third parties, including the state.


Tomtor, located in the north of the Siberian region of Yakutia, is a key project in Russia’s plans to boost output of the metals that are used in the defence industry and in making mobile phones and electric cars, to reduce reliance on imports from China.

“Those business structures that took over these deposits many years ago are not investing. We need to somehow talk to them and resolve this issue,” Putin told First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov during a meeting in the Kremlin.

“Either they invest, or they establish relationships with other companies and the state. This is a strategically important resource that the state needs now,” Putin added.

Before the Ukraine conflict, Russia planned to invest $1.5 billion in rare earth minerals, striving to become the biggest producer after China by 2030.

Other countries, including the United States, are also trying to curb their reliance on China, which controls 95% of the global production and supply of rare earth metals.

Businessman Alexander Nesis, a former shareholder in Polymetal, a major producer of gold and silver, used to own a 75% stake in a firm called ThreeArc Mining, the operator of the project, through his IST group of companies.

Polymetal used to own a 9.1% stake in ThreeArc Mining.

Following the ownership change after the start of Russian military action in Ukraine, and subsequent Western sanctions on Russian businesses, the operator of the project is now controlled by IST’s former manager Vladislav Resin.

Resin’s company TM-Energo Finance did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Polymetal’s spokesman told Reuters that the company fully exited the project in June. In 2023, Polymetal wrote off $24 million in losses after the project’s development was put on hold.

https://www.mining.com/web/putin-scolds ... nt-delays/

[energy_isere]

suite de ce post du 7 sept 2024 viewtopic.php?p=2398219#p2398219

Découverte de Gallium au Tanbreez project au Groenland.

Critical Metals Corp Discovers 147 PPM of Gallium at Its Tanbreez Project

November 26, 2024

Initial results from drilling program demonstrate significant upside potential for foundational rare earth asset in Southern Greenland

Critical Metals Corp (Nasdaq: CRML) (“Critical Metals Corp” or “the Company”), a leading mining development company focused on critical metals and minerals and producing strategic products essential to electrification and next generation technologies for Europe and its western world partners, today provided a project update for the Tanbreez Greenland Rare Earth Mine (the “Tanbreez Project”), one of the world’s largest rare earth assets located in Southern Greenland. In connection to the drilling, the Company has discovered one of the world’s highest concentrations of Gallium, an essential rare earth element for the production of computer chips and defense applications.
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https://www.mining.com/page/6/#latest-section

[energy_isere]

Suite de ce post du 10 avril 2022 viewtopic.php?p=2341042#p2341042

Australia commits additional $257m to Iluka’s Eneabba rare earths refinery
Initially approved in 2022 with an estimated capital cost of A$1.2bn, the Eneabba refinery’s budget increased to a range between A$1.7bn and A$1.8bn

Refna Tharayil 6th Dec 2024

The Australian government is set to commit an additional A$400m ($257m) to support the development of Iluka Resources’ Eneabba rare earths refinery in Western Australia.

The new funding aligns with the government’s “Future Made in Australia” agenda, aimed at enhancing supply chain resilience. It also supports objectives such as promoting domestic value addition and refining while fostering the growth of an Australian rare earths industry.

Iluka Resources’ Eneabba refinery will produce both separated light and heavy rare earth oxides. The project is designed as a single domestic production facility with a brownfield location, leveraging existing infrastructure.

Initially approved in 2022 with an estimated capital cost of A$1.2bn ($770m), the Eneabba refinery’s budget increased to a range of A$1.7bn ($1.09bn) to A$1.8bn ($1.16bn) following front-end engineering and design completion in December 2023.

The Australian government had already contributed a A$1.25bn ($800m) non-recourse loan through its critical minerals facility, administered by Export Finance Australia (EFA).

Iluka Resources also increased its cash equity contribution of A$214m. The additional funding is contingent on securing satisfactory offtake agreements and meeting community benefit principles set by the government.

Commissioning of the Eneabba refinery is slated for 2027.

The facility’s design supports processing feedstock from Iluka Resources’ rare earths stockpile and third-party sources.

To manage potential cost overruns, a A$150m ($96m) facility has been established, with contributions split equally between the company and the government.

Under the revised terms, if Iluka Resources does not secure additional feed sources for the refinery, base royalty payments will be capped at A$40m annually during the first four years of production.

Iluka Resources managing director Tom O’Leary: “This is a strategic infrastructure asset that puts Iluka and Australia at the forefront of global electrification, the creation of new and resilient critical minerals supply chains, and the establishment of a rare earths industry that is genuinely independent.

“Iluka’s partnership with the Australian Government encompasses key contributions from both parties, an appropriate sharing of risk and the alignment of commercial and policy objectives.

“I thank the Australian Government for its continued support for what is a globally important critical minerals development and look forward to formalising our agreement through detailed documentation.”

https://www.nsenergybusiness.com/news/a ... &cf-closed